Call for Nominations: MDEA Academy Awards

Nominations are now open for the sixth annual MDEA Academy Awards! Anyone may submit a nomination to recognize, promote, and celebrate the excellence of MDUSD employees and community members. Individuals may be nominated for the following awards:

On April 15, 2013, David Eleidjian, a 26-year old Iraq War veteran from Antioch, was killed by an industrial mixer, just weeks after another similar incident occurred at Henkel Aerospace in Bay Point. There have been multiple additional OSHA violations at the site that have resulted in burns and other injuries.

In the intervening years since these tragedies, little has been done to improve conditions at the workplace. “Henkel refuses to address health and safety problems through better training and advancement, or a reasonable grievance procedure at the bargaining table," says Steve Older, the Machinists' Area Director.

To this day, workers are concerned for their safety. That's why they decided to go on strike on October 16, 2017. "The company’s ongoing animus toward union workers - on the factory floor and at the bargaining table - has led to more workplace injuries." So far, these brave machinists have picketed day and night for over two weeks. "And we’ll be on strike until this corporation puts safety and fairness first."

Tensions have escalated even further. Henkel has decided to cancel striking workers' health care plans, exacerbating existing health problems. “It is not surprising – and completely in line with Henkel’s callous disregard for worker safety – that they would cancel our insurance in an attempt to scare us back to into unsafe jobs," says Will Morris, Henkel production worker and Shop Steward for Machinists Local 1584. "Scarier than us losing health insurance is what’s been happening to workers inside the plant: disabling and disfiguring accidents.”

The Machinists have also partnered across the Atlantic with IndustriALL Global Union to fight back. Valter Sanches, General President of IndustriAll, has authored a letter criticizing Henkel's cruel actions.

WHO:80 workers on strike protesting unsafe working conditions,plus community leaders, allies and YOU!

CTA is hosting a Diversity Reception onSaturday, December 2 at the Winslow Center.

The reception organizers promise an in-depth dialogue around the Black Lives Matter movement and their recent national policy statement to support student of color and eradicate the school to prison pipeline.

If you would like attend, RSVP to Anita Johnson at johnsona@OurMDEA.org

County Denies Northgate CAPS Petition

On Tuesday, August 29th the County Board of Education voted to disapprove the petition to create a separate Northgate school district. The action was taken over a series of 14 separate votes. The County Board, acting as the County Committee on School District Organization found that the petition did not meet five of the nine criteria set forth by the state. The petition failed on criteria dealing with equitable division of property, segregation, educational programs, equitable division of school facilities, and financial sustainability of the new district. Further, the Committee voted 3-2 that, if approved, the secession would adversely affect the organization of school districts in the county.

Although positive news for MDUSD, the County’s ruling is only a recommendation. The issue will still need to be heard by the State Board of Education. We expect this to happen sometime in the next 2 -3 years.

Additionally, the Board recommended that, if there is a vote, everyone who lives within the attendance area of MDUSD should be included in the vote.

Pleased and relieved by the decision, Superintendent Dr. Nellie Meyer expressed her appreciation to all MDEA members for their support throughout the process and “for all of the good work you do every day.” Read the District’s reaction here.

Many MDEA members and concerned community members spoke in support of keeping Mt. Diablo Unified. Student voices were particular powerful. One student said, “it is shocking that this is still up for debate when it is clear it will damage other schools.”